I will also be posting construction photos here as the project progresses.

Once this capsule is completed, a mold will be made of the four major components. This will allow the studio to reproduce the capsule and make it available to anyone!

Interested in finally owning your own Mercury capsule? These spacecraft replicas will be light weight, well built, accurate and above all... affordable.

Constructed of fiberglass and acrylic, the capsules will be produced without any interior details. However, if you would like an interior to be installed, one can be custom built to your specifications and level of accuracy. From the simple, to the ornate.

The master capsule will be nearing completion quite soon and once that is done, the molding process will begin. A completion date has not yet been determined but serious inquires about purchasing are welcome.

If you have any questions about the construction of the capsule. Please feel free to contact me at info@GerathsDesign.com or through my studio.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of my customers, both past and present.

Many of you currently have commissions on order with my studio and I would like to thank you for your patronage. Your satisfaction with my work is the single most important thing to me. I value your input, your generosity and your repeated trust in my studio. I have already had several repeat customers and I look forward to working with many more of you in the future. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Geraths Design, as well as the Geraths family would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday.

[This message has been edited by DGeraths (edited December 19, 2004).]

Capcom1New Member

Posts: From: Registered:

posted 12-20-2004 01:49 PM
Outstanding!I was looking forward to the LM interior mockup, but this is great!Question: Have you ever thought of making this available in kit form? You obviously have a lot of time and effort invested in this, and I think there are ALOT of people who would love the chance to build one themselves...myself included. Tinkerers could also take the opportunity to add details as they Just an idea, since I won't have $8k laying around anytime soon (though I'm sure it's worth it)I'll be watching!Best to you this holiday.

DGerathsNew Member

Posts: From: Registered:

posted 12-20-2004 02:58 PM
Currently there are no plans to produce this capsule in kit form, sorry.

posted 12-21-2004 03:50 PM
Not in a kit, eh?If I may ask, does this have to do with your agreement with Moonrocks or something? I don't mean to pry, but it seems if you have molds for the shingle sections, and some sort of plans for the frame, why not replicate them in mass (?) quantities? Would you feel that it dilutes your finished pieces (which I'm sure are as close to real as you get) or do you think it wouldn't be cost-effective? I can see a whole cottage industry sprouting up, with people making interior modules, power supplies, couches, lighting, and the like for those wishing to build their capsule up over time.When I was a kid in the early 70's, I would have killed to have something like this. Now I'm wondering if I can give my 5 month old son something like this later (or build it with him, the ultimate father and son project!)Just curious and a huge fan of your stuff!

Best,Eric

DGerathsNew Member

Posts: From: Registered:

posted 12-21-2004 08:58 PM

quote:Originally posted by Capcom1: I don't mean to pry, but it seems if you have molds for the shingle sections, and some sort of plans for the frame, why not replicate them in mass (?) quantities? Would you feel that it dilutes your finished pieces (which I'm sure are as close to real as you get) or do you think it wouldn't be cost-effective?

Yes I do own the master molds for the panels and associated parts and have detailed notes and measurements for constructing one of these capsules... but producing these in kit form would be self-destructive to my studio.

Not only would it not be cost effective as each kit would have to sell for at least $4,000.00; but I would also be handing every competitor the construction plans and ready made materials to make their own capsules for the market. Producing these as finished exhibit items is the only way they will leave my studio. Kit form would have far to many headaches involved and from a business point of view, would be suicide.

posted 12-22-2004 08:46 AM
Makes sense to me. I hope your studio makes a zillion dollars, and there are Mercury capsules all over the place to remind everyone of our program's humble beginnings!Guess I'd better start saving those cans and bottles to get one of my own...I'm enjoying watching your progress.